FNG
Enlightened Member
You chuckleheads are just trying to drive up the value of your Westerly Guilds. :lol: :lol: :lol:
After the glowing report from New Hartford tour
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West R Lee
Venerated Member
FNG said:
Read me like a book Effin :wink: . No but seriously, I couldn't agree more with Fungus. And he makes a good point on the price. I won't comment on the Corona or Tacoma Guild prices, but part of what made Guild so special in Westerly was that they were such a great value. Now at what someone said was an average of $2300, I can buy a D28 or D35 Martin for less.....seems like a new D55 is substantially more than that.
West
FNG
Enlightened Member
A D-55 probably isn't the heads up competition to the D-28. I would say the D-50 Bluegrass Special is. The standard for production guitars is probably around 40 percent off retail, at least the new guitars I've bought. So the street value is about the same, but it has red spruce top and bracing. If you compare a D-28 with adi upgrade, price wise, there is no comparison. I think the D-28 Marquis, which is a D-28 with an adi top, and some other construction differences, retails for 5299. The D-50 retails for 2899. And the D-50 I own, I would put up against any comparable Martin out there, for both value, and most importantly sound. Despite the fact that it's not a real Guild. :lol: :roll:
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Why is your D50 not a "real" Guild?
West
West
killdeer43
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I'll have to second that question. :?West R Lee said:
Joe
West R Lee
Venerated Member
FNG said:
Oh and Effin, on the Martin comparison, I wasn't referring to side by side, same woods, etc., I was merely referring to upper end production Martin guitars. I do think a D35 Martin would come pretty close to a D55 side by side, and I can buy one of those here for right at $2000.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2010-Martin-D35-Dre ... 2eacb52724
West
Dr. Spivey
Senior Member
Interesting thread, more so as I finally got to play a new Guild yesterday. A D40 about 6 months old. Compared to anything at the same price point it's an outstanding guitar, I don't have anything negative to say. I'll post more on this in a new thread later.
I agree with what Fungus has said here. Fender dug Guild into the hole they're in, and now must find a way out. Martin did the same thing in the '80s. At low ebb, Martin was only selling about 3000 guitars a year. Different times and all, but some comparison is valid.
I see the news from LMG as mostly good. At least it seems there is a plan in place that has a fair chance of success. It has always been obvious FMIC didn't know squat about acoustic guitars, and it seems they have learned a few things in their adventures with Guild. Marketing schemes only go so far in selling acoustic guitars, tone and craftsmanship are what get the real players talking and buying. If that were not the case, most of us wouldn't be here. The fact that Fender has maintained and even improved Guild quality in the last 15 years is all that has kept them in the game this long. Marketing alone won't solve Guild's problems.
The only guitars I own are Westerly Guilds. They were great guitars, made by great people in a different time and place, which unfortunately is gone, never to return. If building and selling guitars that way was viable in today's marketplace somebody would be doing it. The idea of the new Standard Series seems like a reasonable alternative.
I checked "the jury's still out" in the poll, only because I don't see myself buying another guitar, Guild or not, new or used, real soon. However, we all know how those plans work. :roll:
Prices are what they are, the factory is where it is, FMIC still owns Guild, and as I've said before; if the whole thing goes bust tomorrow, some of us will carry on. See ya in the (cyber) funny papers. 8)
fungusyoung said:
I agree with what Fungus has said here. Fender dug Guild into the hole they're in, and now must find a way out. Martin did the same thing in the '80s. At low ebb, Martin was only selling about 3000 guitars a year. Different times and all, but some comparison is valid.
I see the news from LMG as mostly good. At least it seems there is a plan in place that has a fair chance of success. It has always been obvious FMIC didn't know squat about acoustic guitars, and it seems they have learned a few things in their adventures with Guild. Marketing schemes only go so far in selling acoustic guitars, tone and craftsmanship are what get the real players talking and buying. If that were not the case, most of us wouldn't be here. The fact that Fender has maintained and even improved Guild quality in the last 15 years is all that has kept them in the game this long. Marketing alone won't solve Guild's problems.
The only guitars I own are Westerly Guilds. They were great guitars, made by great people in a different time and place, which unfortunately is gone, never to return. If building and selling guitars that way was viable in today's marketplace somebody would be doing it. The idea of the new Standard Series seems like a reasonable alternative.
I checked "the jury's still out" in the poll, only because I don't see myself buying another guitar, Guild or not, new or used, real soon. However, we all know how those plans work. :roll:
Prices are what they are, the factory is where it is, FMIC still owns Guild, and as I've said before; if the whole thing goes bust tomorrow, some of us will carry on. See ya in the (cyber) funny papers. 8)
FNG
Enlightened Member
West R Lee said:
The main similarity between the D-35 and the D-55 is the more thinly scalloped bracing, and the D-35 has a cheaper three piece back and lacks the fretboard and soundhole inlay. If Martin was to add the inlay instead of cheap decals, and a two piece back, then you would be paying for it. Plus, you posted a used model, which someone is probably dumping because it's a dog. :lol:
Truthfully, I think the appropriate Martin to compare to the D-55 is the D-41. Which will probably cost you around a grand more than a D-55.
FNG
Enlightened Member
West R Lee said:
Because it was not made in Westerly. :lol: :lol: :roll: :wink:
I do agree that the jury is still out the NH operation. But by the looks of it, they are trying to make this a special operation, and are looking to impress a very cynical crowd who is savvy on the history of Guild. Sounds like they are really trying to restore Guild to it's glory days. I for one am looking to get my chubby little hands on a couple to see what they sound and look like!
West R Lee
Venerated Member
FNG said:
Played a NH D55 last October in Arlington. She looked and felt great, it's just so hard to hear in those guitar shows.
West
learnintoplay62
Senior Member
Why don't they try some good old throw down marketing challenges. Try our D whatever against Martins H whatever and if you don't agree we'll throw in an old Westerly for yer troubles 
learnintoplay62 said:Why don't they try some good old throw down marketing challenges. Try our D whatever against Martins H whatever and if you don't agree we'll throw in an old Westerly for yer troubles
That's what won me over in 1976 when I bought the D50 (minus the free guitar). I liked it better than the Martin or the Gibson (no Taylor then) and that's why I bought it. Head to head is where Guilds really shine. It looks like GC will never get Guild, but Sam Ash will, so there should be some around soon I hope. They had a pile of the same catalogs that they gave out at LMG last time I was there, but no guitars yet. That was probably three weeks ago. There might be some there by now. The other problem at Sam Ash is that you have to get some sales droid to play the better guitars.
learnintoplay62
Senior Member
Yeh Sandy, I hate that to about Sam Ash. However, I just kind of walk behind the counter and give 'em the stink eye as I do. If they don't like it toooooo Bad
West R Lee
Venerated Member
We go to the Arlington show and there are several Martin dealer, a Gibson trailer full of guitars, and Taylor dealers running out your ears. Then when you open an Acoustic Guitar magazine, there's always this breathtaking advertisement to the effect of the Golden Gate bridge suspended by Taylor guitar headstocks, or power lines suspending high tension wires from the necks of Taylors, always great Gibson and Martin ads, but Guild stopped taking out ads in AG.
As I've said for a long time now, put some Guilds in the hands of performers, do some advertising and Guild might really begin to take off. If Guild doesn't do those things, I suspect Guild in Connecticut will be short lived, especially at these prices.
And Effin, I can go down to the local music store and buy a D35 Martin off the rack for $2000 tomorrow, but I won't, I'm a Guild guy. I just grabbed the eBay ad for grins, I suspect he's trying to get his money back.
West
As I've said for a long time now, put some Guilds in the hands of performers, do some advertising and Guild might really begin to take off. If Guild doesn't do those things, I suspect Guild in Connecticut will be short lived, especially at these prices.
And Effin, I can go down to the local music store and buy a D35 Martin off the rack for $2000 tomorrow, but I won't, I'm a Guild guy. I just grabbed the eBay ad for grins, I suspect he's trying to get his money back.
West
JerryR
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West R Lee said:
Jim
We'll just have to get you and Ken noticed, make you both famous as genuine Texan C&W performers - US Tours, World Tours - then the demand for Guilds will go over the top
Oh - and the price will, as well
Yes, it's a little annoying, but I'd almost rather have that than to pick up a great guitar that had been played too hard and put away wet.learnintoplay62 said:Yeh Sandy, I hate that to about Sam Ash. However, I just kind of walk behind the counter and give 'em the stink eye as I do. If they don't like it toooooo Bad
Brad
Such a great conundrum... I really resent going into a store that segregates the high-end and low-end merchandise, particularly when they cordon the good stuff off... The whole point of going to the music store is to get hands on so you can make a purchase decision. Many of us just take that experence and go buy used off the web. But occasionally the stores make a sale, and there you go.Brad Little said:Yes, it's a little annoying, but I'd almost rather have that than to pick up a great guitar that had been played too hard and put away wet.learnintoplay62 said:Yeh Sandy, I hate that to about Sam Ash. However, I just kind of walk behind the counter and give 'em the stink eye as I do. If they don't like it toooooo Bad
Brad
Our local store that carries Guilds definitely has one of my favorite places in the world... The acoustic room. Smells like a guitar forest. So many great guitars to just sit down with. But, there are people who screw this up for everyone! The staff of the store can't monitor the room all the time, and some of these chucklehead customers bang the crap out of the merchandise and use picking styles that would even scare Richie Havens!
I don't know what the right answer is, but I don't think I would shop at Sam Ash anymore. That said, if it were my only choice (as it was in college when I bought my Ibby 12 string), it's still better than buying used sight-unseen/sound-unheard.
Chazmo said:
Chaz, I just think it's the cost of doing business. As much as Guitar Centers suck (and I'm not arguing that) you can go into the one by my office, and play anything right up to the $10k Martin D45 or whatever it is. To make an informed decision, you need to sit and play them without some pimple-faced sales droid hanging over you.
Sam Ash has always had a crappy attitude around here, even right back to when I bought my D50 in 1976. However, if they're the only ones around here that will be stocking USA made Guilds, I guess it beats a blank...
I am a newbie to Guild, and because of this, I feel I am pretty neutral on the whole "Westerly vs. the World" debate. The one thing I think we can all agree on is that we are attracted to great guitars, which is why I ended up here and adopted a passion for the Guild brand. While Guild has burned its loyal fans in the past on multiple occasions, I will choose to stay optimistic and hope for the best. In my opinion, a passive stance on the matter is probably not what is expected/hoped for from Guilds most loyal fan base. When I am able to, I plan to support the survival/growth of Guild by buying a great guitar from New Hartford to set an example to people of my generation that Guild is back and making quality instruments.
Besides, I am about 20-30 years younger than the average age on this forum, so somebody has to keep the site going when you are all too old to type. :lol:
Besides, I am about 20-30 years younger than the average age on this forum, so somebody has to keep the site going when you are all too old to type. :lol:
West R Lee said:
Went to AcousticGuitar.com today and the scrolling marquee advertisement at the top of the screen was flashing a huge Guild ad. To quote a phrase, "these times are a changin"...I sure hope so. You might say I'm unlearned, but I choose to stay optimistic...helps me sleep at night.